Switch-lock.



B. H. MCNEIL.

Y swlTcH L ocK. AIPLICATION FILED MAR. I7. 19|?.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

f1 PLI Jef BENJAMIN H. MCNEIL, 0F CHICAGO, IJLINOS.

SWITCH-LOCK.

nasales.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept., el, 191i.

Application tiled March 17, 1917. Serial No. 155,@6.

To all wwmz't may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN H. Mo- NniL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of @ook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful mprovements in Switch-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

The device which is the subject-matter of the present application for patent is designed more particularly for attachment to motor vehicles to prevent the theft or unauthorized use thereof. The device is a switch which controls the ignition circuit, and it is so constructed that it may be locked when the circuit is broken so that the circuit cannot be closed unless the combination is known.

The invention has for its object to provide a simple and eiiicient device of the kind stated, and to this end it consists in a novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

ln order that the invention may be better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in said drawing,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device, and

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the cover re moved;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. l; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are face views of certain movable parts ofthe device.

y `Referring specifically to the drawing, 10 denotes a suitable housing which incloses the switch mechanism. In this housing are located two laterally spaced plates 11 and 12, respectively, between which is located a series of rotatable disks 13, three of the latter being shown. The plates 11 and 12 fit in the housing so that they cannot turn therein, the plate 11 being near the front portion of the housing and the plate 12 near the rear wall. In the center of the plates 11 and 12 is journaled a spindle 14 on which the disks 13 are mounted.

The plates 11 and 12, and the disks 13, are all made of some insulating material, and on that side of the plate 12 which faces the rearmost one of the disks 13 are contacts 15 provided with binding posts 16 for connection with the wires of the ignition circuit. On the side of the plate l1 which faces the front one of the disks 13 are contacts 17 with binding posts 18 for the circuit wires. The wires connected to the binding posts 1G lead from the magneto or coil, and the wires connected to the binding posts 18 lead to the spark plugs; or the connections may be reversed, and the switch mechanism may also be interposed in some other portion of the ignition or other circuit to be controlled.

The contacts 15 and 17 are metallic plugs which are inserted into apertures 19 in the plates 11 and 12, said plates having a circular series of transverse apertures so that the position of the plugs may be varied.

In each one `of the disks 13 is a circular series of transverse apertures 20 for holding conducting plugs 21, said plugs proj ecting from both sides of the disks, and each disk having a number of plugs corresponding to the number of contacts 15 and 17 on the plates 11 and 12. The contacts and conducting plugs are all spaced the same distance from the Center of the plates and the disks., and hence by properly turning the disks to bring the conducting plugs in alinement and the plugs of the outer ones of the series of said disks in contact with the contacts 15 and 17 on the plates 11 and 12, an electric connection is established between the contacts of the respective plates 11 and 12 and the circuits are closed. To open the circuit, it is necessary only to turn one or more of the disks 13 to break the Connection. Tt will be understood of course, that the plugs 21 project a sutiicient distance from the disks 3 so that they may make contact with the plugs of the adjacent disks, the plugs of the disks next to the end plates 11 and 12 Vengaging the contacts and 17, respectively.

The disks 13 are turned to make or break the combination by turninp` the spindle 14. The disk 13 next to the plate 11 is fast on the spindle, and the other disks 13 are loose on the spindle. The lirst-mentioned disk 13 has a pin 22 projecting from its inner face, said pin seating in an arcuate slot 23 in the next disk; or the slot may be in the first disk and the pin on the second disk. 1When the first disk is turned until the pin strikes the end of the slot, a continued turning of said disk transmits this motion to the next disk, and by a `similar pin-andslot connection motion is transmitted to the other disk of the series. The drawing shows three rotatable disks, but the number of such disks is immaterial and may be varied as .lid

desired. The pins 22 are adj ustably mounted on the disks the latter having a circular series of holes 24 to receive the same. Thus, by changing the position of the pins the combination is changed.

In front of the plate 1l, the spindle 14 has 1 a knob 25 provided with an index similar to the knobs of permutation locks, by which the spindle is turned, to place the disks 13 in the predetermined relative position in which the circuit is closed. the housing 10 has a cover 26 through an opening in which the knob 25 extends, and on the back of this cover are springs 27, which latter, when the cover is closed, engage the plate 11 and force lthe same rearward to obtain a good Contact between the plugs 15, 21 and 17 The rear plate 12 seats against a shoulder on the inside of the housing 10, and the plate 11 is sufficiently loose so that it may be pressed inwardly by the springs 27 when the cover 26 is closed. The disks 13 are also slidable along the spindle 14. Thus, it will be seen that when the cover 26 is closed the springs 27 jam the parts 11, 12 and 13 together to obtain a good contact between the plugs 15, 21 and 17.

In the housing 10 is mounted a spring brush 28 which bears on the peripheries of the disks 13 to retard the movement of the same and prevent accidental movement thereof after they are set.

The circuit wires may enter the housing 10 at the bottom or at any other convenient point.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown, but it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be madewithout a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter. The combination can also be readily changed by changing the relative position of the plugs 15 and 17 .I claim 1. An electric switch mechanism com-- prising a pair of laterally spaced stationary plates having` each a series of transverse apertures, conducting plugs interchangeably mounted in the apertures and projecting from the inner faces of the plates, circuit connections with said plugs, a spindle j ournaled in the plates, a series of disksmounted on thespindle between the plates and in- Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the f Washington, D. C.

The front of Aing respectively the conducting plugs of the stationary plates.

2. An electric switch mechanism compris j ing a pair of laterally spaced stationary members each having a series of transverse apertures, conducting plugs interchangeablj7 mounted in the apertures and projecting from the inner faces of the members, circuit connections with said plugs, a series of relatively `movable members mounted between the stationary members and insulated from each other, said lmovable members having transverse apertures, conducting terchangeably,mounted in the apertures and projecting from the faces of the movable members, said plugs being in alignement and in contact upon a predetermined relative position of the movable members, and the plugs of the end ones of the series of movable members then engaging respectively the conducting plugs of the stationary members, and actuating means for the movable members.

plugs inl 3. An electric switch mechanism compris` A and the plugs of theend ones of the series of disks then engaging respectively the conductingplugs of the stationary members.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

4isn'nnnnrii n. MCNEIL.

' Commlssener .0.1 lafents, 

